Friday, August 31, 2012

Jade Dernbach marked his return to England duty with 3 wickets, including the prize scalp of Hashim Amla, in a 4-wicket succeed over his native South Africa in the 3rd ODI at The Oval.

Dernbach, recalled in place of Tim Bresnan, took 3 for 44 in nine overs on his Surrey home ground Friday as South Africa were dismissed for a below par 211 with 20 balls of their innings left. man seamer Anderson took 4 for 44 in 9.4 overs, including a spell of 3 for one in 8 balls that polished off the tail to help set up a win -- England's first over the Proteas this season in any format -- that leveled the 5-match series at 1-1.

England slumped to 64 for 3 in reply before a 4th-wicket partnership of 108 between former South Africa youth international Jonathan Trott (71) and ex-Ireland left-hander Eoin Morgan (73) punish the tourists for not making enough runs after winning the toss.

Amla was again South Africa's top scorer, as he had been while making a masterful 150 in the Proteas' 80-run win at Southampton on Tuesday. But his return to the ground where last month he became the first South Africa batsman to score a Test match triple century saw him dismissed by Dernbach for just 43.South Africa made a steady start after winning the toss, with Amla and Smith sharing a partnership of 50. But Smith was bowled by Anderson for 18 after the left-hander charged down the pitch.

England then got Amla, a thorn in their side all season, out moderately cheaply when Dernbach shaped a full length delivery that nipped back and bowled him off the in edge. James Treadwell, replacing rested fellow off-spinner Graeme Swann, took 2 for 49 as both captain AB de Villiers and JP Duminy holed out when well set.

Dean Elgar, in only his 2nd innings at this level, made 42 until bowled by a clever slower ball from Dernbach, who last played for England in a ODI against Australia in July that totally deceived the left-hander. Dernbach, born in Johannesburg but who arrived in England as a schoolboy, strike again when Wayne Parnell edged to wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter, a former South Africa Under-19 international.

Ian Bell was lbw to recalled fast bowler Steyn, included after being rested from the first 2 matches, to leave England 14 for one. England ODI and now Test, captain Alastair Cook took 18 balls to get off the mark before cutting Lonwabo Tsotsobe off his pads for 4.

But the left-hander carelessly lofted spinner Robin Peterson to Elgar, running round from deep mid-wicket, on 20. And 61 for 2 became 64 for three when Ravi Bopara was caught after for a duck by wicket-keeper de Villiers off speedy bowler Morne Morkel. Trott took 86 balls over his 50, with just 2 fours, but prevented more collapse while Morgan, who lofted left-arm spinner Elgar for the 1st six of the match during a 54-ball 50, ensured the innings did not idle.

Man-of-the-match Morgan, known as ODI 'finisher', later advanced down the pitch to cover-drive Tsotsobe for an impressive six high over long-off before he skied a return catch to Peterson. Trott was out with 5 needed for victory when caught behind off left-arm fast Parnell. The series continues across London at Lord's on Sunday.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Southampton: Hashim Amla inflicts another record-breaking hundred upon England as South Africa win the second ODI by 80 runs in Southampton on Tuesday.

Amla 150 saw him become the fastest player to 3,000 ODI runs as he reached just his 57th innings compared to the 69 it took West Indies great Vivian Richards. It was also the highest individual score in ODI matches between South Africa and England, and the foundation stone of the Proteas' 287 for five, made after captain AB de Villiers win the toss. England in reply was dismissed for 207, with more than 9 overs left.

Amla 10th hundred at this level surpass team-mate Graeme Smith's 141 in Centurion 3 years ago as the largest solo effort in South Africa-England one-dayers and was also Amla personal best, overtaking the 140 he made against Bangladesh in Benoni in 2008.success saw South Africa take a 1-0 lead in this 5-match series following Friday's washout in Cardiff and ended England's run of 10 straight wins in finished one-dayers.

It also meant South Africa, having already dethroned England at the top of the world Test rankings this tour, also replaced them at the head of the same one-day standings and were now top in all 3 formats. South Africa only needs to draw this series to cement their new-found status, while England must win it to remain in pole place in the 50-over format.

England's attack must be sick of the sight of Amla, who made a South Africa record 311 not out in the 1st Test at The Oval last month and another hundred as the Proteas conserved the 3-match series 2-0 with victory at Lord’s. Opener Amla, a touch batsman rather than a power player, was in sight of the rare difference of carrying his bat in a ODI match when, 2balls before the end of the innings, he uppercut fast bowler Steven Finn to Tim Bresnan.

The ball before the stylish Amla, who put on 89 for the 1st wicket with Test skipper Smith (52), gave himself room to work the ball down to 3rd man for a 4 that took him to 150 in front of a near-capacity Ages Bowl crowd in this day/night fixture. Amla faced 124 balls with 16 boundaries but was missed on 92 when Johannesburg-born wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter failed to hold a intricate but catchable leg side chance off Finn.

England was reduced to nought for one when skipper Alastair Cook was superbly yorker by Lonwabo Tsotsobe off just the 2nd ball of their reply. Ian Bell got England going again but a second-wicket partnership worth 64 ended when Jonathan Trott, a previous South Africa youth international, was luminously caught over his shoulder by Dean Elgar at long leg off M- Morkel.

And 64 for 2 became 77 for 3 when Bell, whose 45 came at better than a run-a-ball, played down the wrong line to left-arm spinner Robin Peterson made it 2 wickets for three runs in 8 balls when Ravi Bopara struck a long hop to short extra-cover. England, without the exile Kevin Pietersen, was now 90 for four.Kieswetter then became Elgar's 1st wicket at this level when he edged the slow left-armer's 3rd ball to Smith at slip. Any hopes of a late England rally left when Eoin Morgan, Bresnan and Swann all exited on the same total to leave the hosts 159 for 8.

Last man Finn and Patel entertain the crowd with some bold boundary hitting before Patel was caught behind for 45 off Morkel to end the match. The series continues at The Oval on 31- 8-2012 (Friday).

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Rahul Dravid's retreat earlier this year has spared the current selection committee major headache as they sit together to pick their last Test team before the end of their term. After the 8 straight losses abroad, the demand for change and youth was natural, but the job created by Dravid's departure will allow them to pick 3 new batsmen for the New Zealand Series with no having to make a tough call. Tough calls will be left for the team board who will prune the 15 to 11 on the eve of the 1st Test, which begins on August 23.

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are likely to continue as the openers, VVS Laxman is almost certain to retain his middle-order place, and Cheteshwar Pujara will be only addition to the bat group that tour Australia. Rohit Sharma, who was the next man in should India have made changes in Australia, is likely to retain his Test slot in spite of a very much not good enough limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka. The selection of the XI is some way off, but Pujara's return from injury and his adult knocks on rough West Indies pitches through the A tour might have pushed him in front of Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane in the pecking order.

Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, who formed a victorious spin duo in home Tests against West Indies last year, are likely to backed up by Rahul Sharma in the reserves. Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav will be the 2 1st-choice quicks.

Although the BCCI's release didn't say so, the selectors are also likely to discuss the squad for next month's World Twenty20. They might or might not make the statement tomorrow, but this is likely to be a more complex conversation. For starter, they will have to take a call on the moving favorite Yuvraj Singh's return after his recovery from a rare germ-cell cancer.

There is room for discussing various combinations in the Twenty20 squad, particularly in the bowling department. They could look at other T20 specialists, but the 15 who played in Sri Lanka start off as favorites for preservation.